When a loved one wants to go home

For many of us, there’s no place like home. So, it’s not surprising that some of us would prefer to spend our last days in the comfort of our own home. If a palliative care patient yearns for the familiarity of home, for you as a friend or family caregiver, it could be particularly overwhelming to make the necessary arrangements to honour the wishes of your loved one – but it isn’t impossible.

The New York Times has posted a checklist of things to consider if a loved one is in their final stages of life and wants to come home.

Make room for the bed

One of the trickiest parts of bringing the patient home is realising that the bedroom may not be the best place to put the bed, especially if it’s located upstairs. The bed is often placed in a family room where there is more space or the dining room if it’s closer to a bathroom.

Should you bring home a hospital bed?
The idea of bringing this piece of equipment home sparks some of the most emotional disputes, among patients and caregivers alike. It is also the one piece of equipment that clearly turns the home into a hospital.

However, if your loved one is having trouble getting in and out of a regular bed, and your back is being strained as you help, the hospital bed may make that process safer and easier for both of you.

Don’t forget curtains for privacy

Put up a temporary curtain using a spring pressure curtain rod in the doorway. A little privacy can go a long way toward preserving dignity.

Equipment that keeps them moving

Walkers, four point canes and slim wheelchairs all help the patient to get out of bed and take part in daily life. To get the house ready for this new equipment, remove slippery throw rugs, as well as chairs and other furniture that can get in the way.

Changing door handles from knobs to levers can also make moving from room to room easier.

Experiment with earphones

You may need several models to fit into the TV, radio and iPods or tape players so those who are losing their hearing can still enjoy their entertainment, whenever they choose, without disturbing the rest of the household.

Make the existing bathroom safer

Install grab bars or benches inside the tub, and changing the shower head to a hand held shower head may be easier to use.

Lay down non-skid bathmats with a rubber underside to prevent slipping.

Good lighting is critical
Night time trips to the bathroom or even moving down poorly lit corridors can pose serious falling hazards for those whose eyes and minds may be declining. Night lights with light sensors in every room and hallway of the house are important.

Make breathing easier

If the patient experiences breathlessness, oxygen equipment can ease the discomfort and the anxiety that gasping for breath can trigger. The caregiver needs to practice not only operating the machines, but getting the long, plastic oxygen tubing out of the way as the patient moves around the house.